Runaway arrested after pointing gun at police officer

A 17-year-old runaway from the Department of Children’s Services is back in custody after he allegedly tried to shoot at a Madison homeowner.

The juvenile was arrested and booked on two counts of aggravated assault and aggravated burglary for overnight confrontations with a Madison homeowner and a North Precinct police officer.

Larry Goad, 52, of Freda Villa Lane, told police he awoke around 3:30 Thursday morning after hearing his dog barking and upon checking outside, he spotted a man on a bicycle who quickly fled the scene. Goad then found the 17-year-old inside a detached building behind his home. The juvenile had armed himself with a gun from inside the building and tried to shoot at Goad, but the gun didn’t fire.

After a struggle, the teen threw Goad to the floor and ran away firing shots in the air, as he later told detectives. Officer Craig Reese spotted the juvenile suspect on Freda Villa Lane and chased him before the teen turned toward Reese with the gun.

According to police, Reese fired at the teen in self-defense but didn’t hit him. Another officer caught the teen at the Shell Market at 1331 Briarville Road.

Police caught the other suspect, Michael Coakley, 21, later in the morning. He was charged with facilitation of burglary.

The two are suspected in other thefts and burglaries in the Madison and Rivergate areas.

Officers arrested the teenager for being a runaway from Department of Children’s Services custody on July 4. He ran away again from the DCS office in Springfield yesterday.